The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-04-20
our GREAT CAPTAIN.
"reminiscences OF General Lee from GEN
eral Longs Book.


! (Erom the New York SUM
We are told that only twice during the
biographer's prolonged intimacy with
Lee was the latter seen to lose his tom
per, and that one of these lapscs from
self,control occurred at Sharpsburg.
'Icc," it seems, "was riding along a
little in the rear of the line when he
came across Il soldier who had stolen and
killed pig, which he was surreptitious-
ty conveying to his quarters. Positive
orders having been given against pillage
OF every kind i'll Maryland, this fragrant
disregard of his commands threw the
General into a hot passion. Though
usual greatly disiuclincd to capital pun
lshmcnt, he determined to make an eX-
ample Of this skulking pilferor, and
ordered the man to be arrested and taken
back to Jackson, with directions to have
INN shot" Tho Puritan General, to
whom Scriptural prccedents were quite
rs familiar as they had been to Crom-
well officers, "cOuld not quite see the
utility OF the culprit's execution, when
men were already scarce, and il struck
hIm That 1t would answer the purpose
quito as we'll to put tho fellow in the
iront ranks Of the army at tho most
threatened point" He accordingly
treated him as David is reported TO have
served the husband OF Bnthshebn,
placing him whore his chance OF being
shot was excellent. The fellow, though
ion'j Of c!anicStInc pork, was not want
ing in courage, and behaved calamity.
lie redeemed his credit by his bravery,
coming through the heat OF tho fight
unscnthcd, and thus though he lost his
pig, he may be said to have saved his
bacon"
The author appropriately concludes
tue chapter assigned to Gettysburg,
whore the star Of tho nfcdaracy's
fortunes passed into irreparablc eclipse,
With the following anCCdOte, which rests
only on newspaper authority, but
which General Long deems worthy of
hchcl and reproduction, because it is so
strangely Cousouqnt with his own obser-
y1yionF Of Lees iargc-miudcd and in
yIaply conSidar1to attitude coward
I mon men. The story was originally
.oId by Grand Army man, who had
been viewing the panorama of the battle
OF Gettysburg, and who said: 'I was in
the pnttlc OF Gettysburg myself, and an
incident occurred there which largely
changed my views oi the Southern pco-
pie. | had been most bitter anti South
'-'' 'N-A'' IAy 'bttN4 StLENNl VIC
crates desperately. could see nothing
good in any oi them The last day Of
the fight was badly wounded; a ball
shattered my left leg. lay on the
ground not fer from Ccmctery Ridge,
ana us General Lee ordered hls retreat,
hc and his officers rode near ule As
jh'y ctmc lIou5 / recognized him, and,
though faint from exposure and loss OF
blood, raised MP my hands, looked
Lee IN the lace, and shouted as loud as
could, 'iIUcrah Tor the Unionr The
General ncNr me, looked, stopped his
horse, ismountcd, and came toward
me. / confess that | at first thought he
meant to kill me- But as lac camle up
he looked dow, at me with such a sad
expression upon lis face that all fear
lett mo, and ] wondered what he was
about. tie extended his hand to me, f.
Hud Grasp!ng mine firmly and looking
nghU INTO my eyes, said: My son, | .
hope that you will soon be well II Il
lHe thousand years shall never forget /
the lpu!y upon Ices face. There he was,
defeated, retiring from field that had |.
cost Alm and his cause almost their last
hopn, yet ho topped TO say such words
as those 70 wounded soldier OF the
enemy vino had tuuntcd him as he passed
by! AS soon rs the general had left me
! cried myself to sleep there upon the
bloody ground"